Automatic microfiche copier

Claim 2

A microfiche copier, comprising a holder for mounting a microfiche having a sereis of rows of image frames, means mounting said holder for traverse along a first axis, means mounting said holder for traverse along a second axis, first drive means for traversing said holder continuously and uninterruptedly in one direction along said second axis in a scanning mode over the extent of a row of microfiche image frames, additional drive means traversing said holder in the other direction along said second axis in a flyback mode, means defining the limit of traverse in said scanning mode and for actuating said additional drive means, means defining the limit of traverse in said flyback mode and for actuating said first drive means, stepping means actuated at one of said limits of traverse for traversing said holder a fixed incremental distance corresponding to the spacing between rows of microfiche image frames in one direction along said first axis, copying means, and optical means for projecting to said copying means images of successive frames of a microfiche positioned in said holder during a said scanning mode traverse of said holder.

Claim 3

A microfiche copier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said copying means includes a web upon which said images are reproduced, feed means for driving said web to expose successive predetermined Portions thereof to said successive images, and means for sensing the passage of predetermined increments of said web, means associated with said holder for sensing predetermined increments of traverse of said holder in said scanning mode of traverse, said web increments and said scanning mode traverse increments being related to enable synchronizing of said scanning mode traverse with said web feed to locate successive frame images on said successive web portions.

Claim 4

A microfiche copier as set forth in claim 2, wherein said web is a fanfold of panels, each panel having punches positioned along an edge adjacent alternate folds, said web increment sensing means sensing the passage of said punches.

Claim 5

A microfiche copier as set forth in claim 3, wherein said web increment sensing means is a photoelectric-light couple.

Claim 6

A microfiche copier as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for sensing increments of traverse of said holder comprises a series of incrementally spaced indicia carried by said holder, and means for sensing the passage of said indicia past a reference point in said scanning mode traverse.

Claim 7

A microfiche copier as set forth in claim 5, wherein said indicia are a series of apertures in a plate positioned along said second axis, and said indica sensing means is a photoelectric-light couple.

Claim 8

A transport apparatus for facilitating the row by row scanning of a microfiche having rows of image frames, comprising a base, first ways on said base defining a line of traverse on a first axis, a carriage, means mounting said carriage on said first ways for traverse along said first axis, second ways on said carriage defining a line of traverse on a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, a holder, means mounting said holder on said second ways for traverse along said second axis, said holder comprising a pair of overlying frame plates both open in their central areas, means for locating a microfiche in a reference orientation between said plates with the images of said microfiche positioned in said open central areas, actuatable means on said holder and carriage for effecting controlled incremental stepping movement of said holder along said second ways, means defining the limits of traverse of said carriage corresponding to a row of microfiche image frames along said first ways in both directions of said first axis, means for repetitively and cyclically driving said carriage for continuous uninterrupted traverse in each of said both directions between said limits, and means on said base for actuating said stepping means at a selected point in the cyclical traverse of the carriage to effect one incremental stepping movement of said holder corresponding to the spacing between rows of microfiche image frames with each cyclical traverse of said carriage.

Claim 9

A transport apparatus for facilitating the row by row scanning of a microfiche having rows of image frames, comprising a base, first ways on said base defining a line of traverse on a first axis, a carriage, means mounting said carriage on said first ways for traverse along said first axis, second ways on said carriage defining a line of traverse on a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, a holder, means mounting said holder on said second ways for traverse along said second axis, said holder comprising a pair of overlying frame plates both open in their central areas, means for locating a microfiche in a reference orientation between said plates with the images of said microfiche positioned in said open central areas, actuatable means on said holder and carriage for effecting controlled incremental stepping movement of said holder along said second ways, means defining the limits of traverse of said carriage corresponding to a row of microfiche image frames along said first ways in both directions of said first axis, means for repetitively and cyclically driving said carriage for continuous uninterrupted traverse in each of said both directions between said limits, and means on said base for actuating said stepping means at a selected point in the cyclical traverse of the carriage to effect one incremental stepping movement of said holder corresponding to the spacing between rows of microfiche image frames with each cyclical traverse of said carriage.

Claim 10

A transport apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means defining said limits of traverse comprises switch means controlling said carriage drive means for reversing the direction of drive at each limit of traverse.

Claim 11

A transport apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said incremental stepping means comprises a set of pins on said holder equally spaced in a line parallel with said second axis, gate means on said carriage positioned to obstruct the passage of said pins thereby, means for constantly forcing said holder in a direction along said second axis to force a first of said pins against said gate means, said actuating means opening said gate means for the passage of one pin therepast on each cycle of traverse of said carriage.

Claim 12

A transport apparatus as set forth in claim 7, and further including means for continually sensing the position of said holder in its traverse along said first axis.

Claim 13

A transport apparatus as set forth in claim 10, and further including means for continually identifying the position of said holder in its incremental traverse along said second axis.

Claim 14

A transport apparatus as set forth in claim 7, and further including means for conTinually identifying the position of said holder in the incremental traverse along said second axis.

Claim 15

A transport apparatus as set forth in claim 7, and further including means for separating said frame plates to enable removal and insertion of a microfiche therebetween.